Excellent book. I have loved the stories all my life. ( )

Shrinkwrapped

Even though I grew up watching the Disney cartoons of Winnie the Pooh, I don’t think I ever actually read any of the original stories. It was nostalgic and delightful to read familiar stories and characters, and yet feel like I was discovering something new since there were differences between what Milne wrote, and the shows Disney produced. Of course, this was no surprise, but it was interesting to see what exactly those differences were. It was also nice to read some episodes that were entirely new to me.

The one this I struggled with a bit was how he uses ‘carelessly.’

Also, the illustrations found throughout the book by Shepard really added to the enjoyment of reading this book. ( )

The Pooh and Christopher Robin books are, in my mind, pure genius. They are timeless and ageless. E.H. Shepherd's illustrations are astonishing - such simplicity, yet able to capture the signature emotion of the moment. I detest the Disney version! I had records (LPs - oh, how that ages me!) of stories, poems, and poems put to music that I often listened to in bed, all the way through my high school years. The stories were read by the wonderful Maurice Evans, whose voice cannot be equaled. The poems put to music were lovely. I still occasionally sing,
"Halfway down the stairs
is a stair
where i sit.
there isn't any
other stair
quite like
it.
i'm not at the bottom,
i'm not at the top;
so this is the stair
where
I always
stop.

Halfway up the stairs
Isn't up
And it isn't down.
It isn't in the nursery,
It isn't in town.
And all sorts of funny thoughts
Run round my head.
It isn't really
Anywhere!
It's somewhere else
Instead!" ( )

This wonderful edition of the complete stories and poems of Winnie-the-Pooh is a treasure. There is nothing new that I can say about the actual words written by A.A. Milne. Pooh has been reviewed and discussed so many times by persons more scholarly than me. I just want to describe the beauty of this particular edition. The book is printed on beautiful paper in easy to read type and has the original illustrations in color. The actual cover is black with gold embossed lettering and an image of Christopher Robin and Pooh, also embossed in gold. This volume containing the much loved Winnie-the- Pooh books is a keepsake to be displayed and admired as much as it is enjoyed being read. ( )